Water woes continue in Wareham

WAREHAM — Another water sample taken in Wareham tested positive for E-coli bacteria, the Wareham Fire District Water Department announced today.

As a result, water officials are planning to chlorinate the enter water system. Meanwhile, officials urged its customers not to drink the water until further testing proves it is safe.

The Water Department is advising customers to either use bottled water or to boil water vigorously for at least a minute if to be used for consumption, according to a department news release.

Officials received results this morning showing that three of nine repeat water samples taken Tuesday tested positive for presence of bacteria in the water, according to the news release.

One of those samples, taken at the Wal-Mart on Cranberry Highway, tested positive for E-coli. The other two tested positive for total coliform — they came from the Bourne Hill Water Tower and the Water Department’s office at 2550 Cranberry Highway.

The boil-water order and the chlorination does not affect residents of Onset, which has its own water system.

The department originally announced the boil-water order Monday after receiving results that morning from a routine sample taken Aug. 23. It will continue to give out free bottled water at its office throughout the weekend.

The Water Department is starting to introduce chlorine into the system at wells and water towers at a dosage of 2.5 parts per million.

The department is also continuing its sampling of the water system. Fourteen more samples were taken Wednesday. Early results of sampling taken today will not be ready for 24 hours, and the final results will be available in 48 hours.

E. coli bacteria can cause bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps, although the illness usually resolves itself in five to 10 days. People generally fall ill two to eight days after being exposed, according to a Centers for Disease Control fact sheet.

Children younger than 5 and the elderly are at particular risk for illness from E. coli, according to the CDC.For more information, residents can call the Water Department at (508) 295-0450.

A news conference has been scheduled for 5 p.m. today at the Water Department.